Today was really a mixed bag of weather here...snow, rain, sun, wind and hail.  Not a good day to stay outside for long.  Teresa had stayed the night with me so she helped me get my firewood in and I split some kindling.  My back is still unhappy hours later.  She split some extra wood for me so that will come in very handy the next time I have to bring in wood.  She is such an awesome friend!!  The snow is slowly starting to melt and we are part way into mud season.  Yuck!  My driveway is horrid....more like a mud bogging pit!  Some people who drive to my place get there white knuckled!!  Four wheel drive only that's for sure.  But there are a few hints of spring...new buds on a bush near the house, spring birds showing up at the feeders and of course warmer weather.  I look forward to being able to work outside this spring...lots of work to do!
 
Jay has filed divorce papers and I have agreed to it.  I always hoped things would change but that isn't going to happen now so I realized it was time to move on in my life.  I spent the first week crying and then acceptance crept in and God's loving arms gave me the strength I needed to forgive Jay and move on in life.  Not to say I don't still cry or be hurt by something but it comes less and less.  I will always love him and I hope for the best for him.  We are still joint owners of the property and if one of us dies then the other one gets the rights to the property.  He kept his stuff and I kept mine.  It wasn't exactly fair but it was as fair as possible.  Jenni took it really good and so did Kaity.  They were used to us being separated so the rest didn't really surprise them and I was relieved.  I didn't want to hurt them in all of this mess.
 
My son, Jason, cashed in his frequent flyer miles and got me a round trip ticket to Fairbanks, Alaska!!!  My grandson, Daniel, graduates on the 15th of May and I get to be there.  I am so excited!  I leave on May 7 and don't return until May 31.  A real vacation!!!  It is going to be fun since I know my way around Fairbanks and North Pole.  I am looking forward to hugging my son too! I haven't seen him for three years and miss him a lot.  I also will spend some time just just relaxing and reading...out of Jason's library of course since we like the same type of books!  The flight scares me a bit...I haven't been on a plane since 1992 and I know it has changed a lot since 9/11.  But I can't wait to see my family!!
 
I have been busy trying to get Daniel's graduation quilt finished so I can get it to Sandi to quilt for me.  I am about half done but it should go fairly quickly this week and hopefully I will be done by the end of next weekend.  I will be carrying it on the plane with me so need to get it done.  I am still quilting with my group of friends and we have made a lot of charity quilts so far.  I am impressed!  Once the weather gets nicer we tend to slow down in making the quilts since we get busy outside and in the gardens.  My friends have been such great support during this difficult time and I love spending time with them...they are so positive about life that you can't help but feel good around them!
 
Jenni has been looking for work but so far hasn't found much.  She did get a job cleaning house for a lady but it is only twice a month.  Gas money anyhow!  Kaity is studying for state testing next month and hopefully she does well on it.  I like the idea of the testing so that we can see where she might need more help in.  She is an excellent reader and does well in that area.  I am also amazed at how well she does in Math...she is doing the math of a 12 yr. old!  Kids are so advanced from when I was a kid but I have to wonder if maybe it burns them out after a while.  But I know Kaity will do well.  Jenni is an excellent teacher and I don't do too bad as substitute teacher.